Littleborough Rushbearing Festival

The Littleborough Rushcart

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Saturday 24 July saw the annual Rushbearing festival in Littleborough. Rochdale Morris, Eryri Morris from Wales, Black Pig Morris from Derby and Bunnies From Hell all assembled at the King William IV pub, Shore for drinks before the festivities started with a traditional dance from Rochdale Morris. The police were in attendance, one of them complete with clogs and bells.

The Rush Cart then set off down Shore Road pulled by the Morris Dancers to St Barnabas' Church for the presentation of the rushes. There they were met by Revd. Maureen Thorp, who said "It's nice to see other people in church who like dressing up". During the a short service, Lord of the Dance and All Things Bright and Beautiful were sung and a bible verse was read in both modern English and Lancashire Dialect, after which the Revd. Maureen said, "The reading would never be the same again!" After the blessing of the rushes, there was a dance of celebration, danced by the Bunnies, who were all dressed in bright pink!

Sunday morning was unfortunately wet, but it didn't stop the festivities continuing with a Pace Egg " Play of St George" by the Curtain Theatre at Hollingworth Lake Visitors Centre as well as dancing by the different Morris groups. The procession continued on to the Rake Inn where the play was performed again, with more dancing and the procession finished in Littleborough town centre.